Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising the appalling incident in question. My first thoughts go to the cyclist involved. I am sure we all send our hopes and best wishes to the person who was subject to this crime. Our hope is that the person will make a speedy recovery from what looks to have been an appalling incident. The Deputy raised the issue with regard to the commitment of the Government to making a difference in respect of this matter. I can answer his final question directly and state that the Government has full faith in the ability of An Garda Síochána to do all that can be done to keep our roads, streets, towns and cities safe. M constituency of Dublin Central has been afflicted by many of the difficulties to which the Deputy refers. On the happy occasion of the opening of a new primary school in the heart of Seville Place in Sheriff Street by the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, I saw gardaí present there at the heart of the community, emphasising the commitment they have to community safety. This is the very best of An Garda Síochána. What it will get, what it deserves and what the Government will deliver are the resources we can make available to continue with the recruitment plans and the support it needs to make difference when it comes to the behaviour that is so appalling to the Deputy and me.

What will that look like? At the most basic and fundamental level, it will involve the commitment we have to the recruitment of additional gardaí. Our message is clear: 200 more Garda recruits will enter Templemore College every three months. They will enter that college because the biggest difference we can make to the safety of our communities is having gardaí out on the streets and visible in the hearts of our towns and cities. As the Deputy may be aware, the Minister of State, Deputy Browne, is leading a project with regard to how we can support the Garda in tackling antisocial behaviour and what can be done to make a difference to the kind of behaviour that has such an insidious effect in making our communities not feel safe and making them feel unsettled. That is the very issue in respect of which we are committed to make a difference.

I will end on a note with regard to road safety and cyclists, given the incident the Deputy has raised. The Government recognises the importance of this issue. That is why we have a commitment to spend €360 million per year with regard to active travel and greenway projects. To be clear, greenway projects do not make a difference in respect of the issue the Deputy raised, but active travel projects can. As he will be aware, there are four projects under way in his constituency to provide segregated areas for cyclists on our roads. They should not need this space to ensure that the basic obligation of being safe on our roads is met. That is a right they have. Given the issue the Deputy raised, I affirm the position regarding not only the support the Government will give An Garda Síochána but also the funding that is in place to keep our roads as safe as possible for those cycling on them.

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